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The world's toughest smart phone?

Handheld Group, a Swedish manufacturer of rugged devices such as notebook computers, has announced the launch of what it claims is the “toughest smart phone ever built.” The Nautiz X1 follows in the tradition of Handheld’s line of fully ruggedized mobile computers with and IP67 ingress protection rating against dust, sand and full immersion in water, as well as full MIL-STD-810G compliance for humidity, vibration, drops and extreme temperatures.

The one thing that should set the Nautiz X1 apart from other rugged smart phones is how small and light it is. Where other rugged phones tend to be thicker and heavier, the X1 weighs only 6.3 ounces and measures 4.9 inches high by 2.6 inches wide and is only 0.6 inches thick. It has a 4-inch capacitive touchscreen display, which is apparently just as sturdy as the rest of it.

As the demand for rugged smartphones continues to increase, the Nautiz X1 could find use in anything from public transit to forestry to military applications. It is scheduled to be made available in January of 2013 at a list price of $899.

About the Author

Greg Crowe is a former GCN staff writer who covered mobile technology.